Compressing machine



June12, 1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 June 12, 1951 A.s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 June 12, 1951 A.s. Kux

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COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 L TII June 12,1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 Que/2267(Z/efffijfla: 53 97% 7 1 at? June 12, 1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 June 12, 1951 A.s. KUX 2,556,475

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet 7 iiilWH m June12, 1951 A. S. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 Patented June12, 1951 COMPRESSING MACHINE Albert S. Kux, Chicago, 111., assignor toKux Machine Oo., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationNovember 8, 1947, Serial No. 784,877

Claims. 1

This invention relates to compressing machines generally, and moreparticularly to compressing machines for the automatic production ofpreforms or tablets from high bulk factor materials.

High bulk factor materials, examples of which are impact type plasticsand some forms of asbestos, because of their poor feeding qualities andhigh compression ratios, in some cases as high as 12 to 1, cannot beautomatically tableted or we formed on standard presses presently inuse.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide improved meansfor automatically producing tablets or preforms from high bulk factormaterials.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the foregoingcharacter in which adiustments may be readily made to vary thecompression ratios whereby to obtain preforms or tablets of varieddensities.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a machine of theforegoing character which produces preforms or tablets having a highdegree of uniformity in weight and size and which has a relatively highrate of production.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedmachine of the foregoing character which is simple and durable inconstruction and highly emcient in operation.

Other and further objects of th present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration,

vshow exemplary embodiments and the principles thereof. Otherembodiments of the invention embodying the same principle may be used,and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in theart, without departin from the present invention and the purview of theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, on anenlarged scale with parts omitted and looking in the direction indicatedby the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on line 4 l of Fig. lon an enlarged scale with parts omitted and looking in the directionindicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view partly in section on an enlarged scaletaken on line 55 of Fig. e and looking in the direction indicated by theaITOWS.

Fig. 6 is a plan view with parts omitted of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a partial plan view showing in dotted lines certain detailsof construction.

Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are vertical sectional views on an enlargedscale showing the compressing elements in various positions ofoperation.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l 5 designates generally a framestructure of any desired size and configuration supported on a base I6.The frame includes a pair of spaced upright members I! and 58 betweenwhich and on which are supported the operative mechanisms of the machinehereinafter to be described.

Suitably journalled in the upright members I1 and I8 is a driving shaftit upon which are fixed for rotation therewith a combination pulley andfly wheel 2! and a pinion 22, the pulley 2| being driven by a belt, notshown, associated with a suitable source of motive power. The power istransmitted to the main driving gear 23 through a gear train whichincludes Pinion 22, gear 24 and pinion 26, the latter two being fixedlysupported on shaft 21, and gear 23, which is rotatably supported onfixed shaft 28 suitably journalled in the upright members I! and IS, thegear 23 having a cam groove 33. Freely supported on shaft 28 forsimultaneous rotation .thereon are cams 29 and 3!, eccentric 32 and gear23. The cam 29, eccentric 32 and gear 23 are secured together in fixedrelationship by a pin 35 extending longitudinally through all of saidparts. The cam 29 is secured to the cam 3| for rotation therewith bymeans of a plurality of screws. A plurality of link members and crankarms hereinafter to be described are actuated by the said cams andeccentric to perform functions, as will be hereinafter described.

The forward portion of th frame i5 is provided with suitable guides 34in which an upper slide designated generally by the numeral 36 isslidably mounted. The slide 36 may be of any suitable construction andin the embodiment shown includes a socket block member 3'! cooperatingwith a ball member 33 connected to an arm 39 pivotally connected to acrank arm which is pivoted on shaft 42. The crank arm M is connectedthrough link 43 to a bell crank 44 connected to an actuating arm 46which includes an eccentric strap 4'! in cooperative en agement with theeccentric 32. Associated with the socket 3'! and reciprocally movabletherewith is a tubular member #28 having a longitudinally extendingdiametral slot 49. Received in the lower end of the member cc andmovable therewith is a tubular compressing element 5 I provided with ashoulder 52 which abuts the lower end of the member 48.

A lower slide structure generally designated by the numeral 53 isslidably mounted in the guides 34 and includes a depending bored portion63 through which the compressing element I and member 48 are arranged toreciprocate. Clearance is provided on each side of the slide structureto accommodate the bifurcated arm of a bell crank 54, the legs 58 ofwhich are arranged to bear on semi-cylindrical bearing shoes 51positioned on the structure as shown, the legs 55 being provided withcomplemental bearing surfaces to engage the bearing shoes 5i. The bellcrank 54 is pivoted on shaft 59 and is provided at the end of arm BIwith a cam follower roller 62 which engages in the cam groove 33 of gear23.

The slide structure 53 is provided with a depending bored portion 63which is in threaded engagement with an outer sleeve 64, the lower endof which receives a pressure pad 65. It will be seen by reference to thedrawings that the upper compressing element 5i is adapted to reciprocatewithin the bore of the portion 63 and the bore of the pressure pad 65.

A clamp member at secured to portion 63 is adapted to frictionallyengage the peripheral surface of the sleeve t4 and lock the same in aposition of adjustment.

Arranged for freely sliding movement within the bore of the member 38and upper element 5! is a core ejecting rod 61 connected to a bar menber58 which extends through the diametral slot 49 of the member 48. Theejecting rod 81 is secured to and is arranged to move substantiallysimultaneously with the lower slide structure 53.

The frame I5 is provided with a bed indicated generally at 69 arrangedbetween the upright members I! and I8. Supported on the bed 69 is aforwardly extending die table the. Depending from the die table led is atubular portion II which serves as a guide for the member indicatedgenerally at 12. The said member is provided with an enlarged portion I3slidably received in the portion II and with a body portion I4 which isthreaded substantially for its full length. Arranged in an annularrecess at the top end of the member I2 is a plate I5 which supports thelower compressing element H. The provided with a shoulder which isengaged by a cooperating collar 19 for securing the said ele ment inposition. Upper and lower collars 8i and 82 respectively, are inthreaded engagement with the body portion l4 and serve as shoulderswhich cooperate with bifurcated arms of bell. cranks 84 and 3! as willbe hereinafter described, for reciprocating the member l2 andoorrespondingly the compressing element ii. The collars BI and 82 areadjustable longitudinally of the member I2 and may be locked in aposition of adjustment by means of the clamp bar 58 which engagesserrations provided on the peripheral surfaces of the collars 8i and 82.

The bell crank 84 is pivoted on shaft 8? and is provided on its forwardarm with a bifurcated portion, the legs 83 of which straddle the bodyportion i4. The said legs are formed to support semi-circular bearingshoes 38 which are adapted to engage the collar 3!. The other arm 85 ofthe bell crank 84 is provided with a cam follower roller 89 whichcooperates with the cam 3i to actuate the bell crank 54 which acts toreciprocate the lower compressin element if, the upward travel of saidelement serving to 836Gb th said element is I compressed tablet from thedie chamber as will be hereinafter described.

An arm 9i similarly formed with a bifurcated end providing legs 972which cooperate with bearing shoes which are adapted to engage thecollar 32 is pivoted on shaft 93. The rearward end of the arm BI isprovided with a cam surface 94 which cooperates with a roller 96 carriedon arm 97 pivoted on shaft as. The arm $1 is connected through a link 99to a perforated ear IOI integral with the eccentric strap 41. Thus whenthe eccentric 32 is rotated the link 99 rocks the arms 9i about itsshaft 93 and causes the roller 96 to ride on the cam surface 94 which inturn rocks the arm iii to reciprocate the lower element I1 which, in itsupward travel, cooperates with the upper compressing element 5i which isthen travelling downwardly to compress the tablet in desired final form.Both the lower compressing element and the member F2 are hollow andhouse therein a core rod I92 which may be of sectional construction andwhich remains stationary during the movement of the member '52 and thelower compressing element 'I'i. A threaded member W3 is provided foradjusting the position of the core rod W2.

A die N35 is supported on the die table I514 in alignment with thecompressing elements 5i and Ti and is retained in position by a steppedannular ring it? suitably bolted to the die table I04.

Suitably supported for rotation on a spindle Hi8 carried in a boss I39depending from the die table Hid is a turret indicated generally by thenumeral 5 Il and formed of concentric cylindrical shells H2 and I i3connected by radial webs H4 to provide a series of annularly arrangedcompartments H5, said compartments each being open at the top and thebottom. The turret is adapted to be rotated, as will be hereinafterexplained, so that the compartments H6 are successively brought intoregister with the upper and lower compressing elements 5i and TI. Thisoccurs when the element iii and the sleeve 54 are in retracted position.

The 'inner shell H3 is connected to a circular plate II? which is boltedto the flange IIB of a bearing member I it mounted on the spindle I09,the flange being provided with a plurality of spaced annularly arrangedapertures IZI, one for each compartment IIG. Carried on the spindle I68and connected thereto below the die table IN is a ratchet wheel I22. Thesaid ratchet Wheel is actuated by a spring-biased pawl I23 pivotallymounted on an actuating bar I24 slidably carried in a channel guide I26.The rearward portion of the bar I24 is provided with a cam roller l2?arranged to cooperate with cam 29 for reciprocating said bar. A tensionspring I3I connected to the bar I24 serves to maintain the roller I2! inoperative engagement with the cam 29.

The forward portion of the actuating bar I24 is provided with a camsurface I32 adapted to cooperate with the roller mounted on the pivotedmember I33 which is suitably connected to a pin I34 which reciprocablyprojects through an aperture in the table 34, the pin I34 being adaptedto register in one of the annularly arranged apertures [2i to lock theturret Ill in one of a series of positions. It will be apparent that asthe arm I24 is caused to slide forwardly of the machine the pawl I23will engage the ratchet wheel I22 to index the turret III to the nextsucceeding position, In synchronism with such movement, but slightly inadvance thereof, the cam surface I32 actuates the member I33 to move thelocking pin I34 out of registration with the aperture in which it isengaged to permit indexing of the turret to the next succeedingposition. Retraction of the actuating rod I24 permits the member I33 toreturn to upright position and effects registration of the locking pinI34 in the aperture in alignment therewith to lock the turret IIIagainst rotation. The member I33 is biased by a spring I35 contained ina housing I 36 depending from the die table I134.

A substantially triangularly shaped member I31 provided with anarcuately shaped aperture I38 is carried on supporting standards MI. Thesaid member I 31 is disposed in a plane above v the top surface of theturret III and serves to support a vertical chute I42 which extendsthrough the aperture I 38. The lower edges of the chute I42 are spacedslightly from the top edges of the turret III to provide clearance forrotation of the turret, but sufiiciently close substantially to effect ashearing action on the column of material bein fed into the turretcompartment. Thus each compartment I I6 is filled with materialuniformly flush with the top edges thereof.

The table I04 'is provided with a discharge opening I43 arranged so thateach compartment N6 of the feed turret III sweeps thereover in itsrotation. The said discharge opening serves as a means through which thecompressed tablets and unused material are dropped onto an inclinedvibrating screened chute I44 which effects a separation of the unusedmaterial from the compressed tablet. A suitable conveyor means indicatedgenerally by the numeral I45 is associated with the chute I44 and with ahopper I48, in the latter of which is stored a supply of material, theconveyor means being arranged to carry the material upwardly to aninclined chute I46 which connects with vertical chute I42.

It is thought that the operation of this machine will be clearlyunderstood from the foregoing, but briefly stated it is as follows,reference being had particularly to Figs. 8 to 11, it being understoodthat the cams and devices for operating the various parts are soarranged that they will operate the respective parts in timed relationwith respect to each other.

The high bulk factor material to be compressed into tablets is elevatedby the conveyor I45 and fed into the chute I42 where it falls by gravityinto one of the compartments I I6, then in registration therewith. Theturret III is caused to material to be compressed. correspondingly,

one of the compartments II6 leading the one being filled is brought intoregister with the compressing elements 5| and 'IT and the turret III islocked in position.

At the beginning of the compression stroke the element 5| and pressurepad 66 are in retracted position substantially as shown in Fig. 8 toprovide clearance for the indexing and rotation of the turret III. Theface of the lower element TI is substantially flush with the surfaceplane of the die table m4.

In the next advancing movement shown in Fig. 9 the element 5!, pad 68and core ejecting rod 61 move substantially simultaneously into thespace of the compartment H6. The said three elements in combinationprovide a olid ram or 6' plunger which in this case is of circularcrosssectional area and which acts to partially compress the material insaid compartment. At the stage of movement shown in Fig. 9, the topsurface of the lower element H and the core rod I62 are substantiallyflush with the top surface of the die table I64, thus presenting a, flatplane against which a relatively large mass of material is partiallycompressed and firmly held.

In the next stage, illustrated in Fig. 10, the pressure pad 565 is shownas having reached the limit of its stroke. The upper compressing elementhowever, continues downwardly, and simultaneously therewith the lowerelement I? recodes downwardly providing an annular chamber in the dieI95, the core rod I92 at all times remaining stationary. A tablet I39substantially in the form of an annulus is sheared from the partiallycompressed mass by the continued movement of compressing element 5|. Thecore Hit of the partially compressed mass is caused to enter into thebore of the upper element 5|, while the tablet I39 is pushed downwardlyinto the chamber of die it where it is fully compressed by the action ofthe upper and lower compressing elements 5| and ll respectively whichmove toward each other.

In the next stage of operation, as shown in Fig. 11 both the upperelement 5| and pressure pad 6i; move upwardly to clear the top of theturret III to permit indexing of the same to the next succeedingposition. In this movement the partially compressed core I413 still inthe bore of the upper element 5| is carried into engagement with thecore ejector rod 6'! which cooperates with the movement of the element5| to eject the core I 46, which drops into the turret compartmentimmediately below it. Simultaneously, the lower element l'l rises to itsnor mal position, flush with the surface of the die table I534, and inso doing ejects the compressed tablet I39 from the die. The nextindexing of the turret III sweeps the contents of the compartment H6,which includes the finished tablet, partially compressed andnon-compressed material, over the discharge opening I43 in the die tableI34 through which they fall onto the vibrating screened chute I44, whichacts to separate the finished tablet from the rest of the material, thesaid material falling through the periorations in the screen of thechute 44 and being carried with new material from the hopper I48 by theconveyor I45 to the chute M6.

When the compartment H5 just described is disposed over the dischargeopening I43 the trailing compartment I Iii immediately adjacent is op"eratively aligned with the compressing elements 5i and ii, and the samecycle of operations hereinabove described is repeated.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to formingtablets only of the shape herein described, but that tablets of otherdesired shapes may be formed therewith. For example, by usingcompressing elements of solid cylindrical or polygonal cross sectioninstead of annular cross section as shown in the drawings and omittingthe core rods, tablets of solid cylindrical or polygonal shapes may beformed.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the appended claims I claim:

1. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form a formingchamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber indirections toward and away from each other, a rotatable turret includinga plurality of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, saidturret being so disposed that each of said compartments may besuccessively aligned with said compressing elements to permit said upperelement to pass therethrough, means for delivering to each of saidcompartments successively a quantity of material to be compressed, meansfor advancing said compartments to bring the same successively intoalignment with said com pressing elements, means for partiallycompressing the mass of said material within said compartments and foractuating said compressing elements to further compress a portion ofsaid partially compressed mass in said chamber in tablet form.

2. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a formingchamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber indirections toward and away from each other, a sleeve telescoped oversaid upper compressing element, a rotatable turret including a pluralityof compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turret being sodisposed that each of said compartments may be successively aligned withsaid compressing elements to permit entry therein of said uppercompressing element and said sleeve, means for delivering to each ofsaid compartments successively a quantity of material to be compressed,means for advancing said compartments to bring the same successivelyinto alignment with said compressing elements, means for actuating saidsleeve and separate means for actuating said upper element to partiallycompress a mass of material within a compartment, said last-recitedmeans further actuating said upper element to compress in said chamber aportion of said partially compressed mass into tablet form.

3. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a formingchamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber indirections toward and away from each other, a sleeve telescoped oversaid upper compressing elements, a rotatable turret including aplurality of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turretbeing so disposed that each of said compartments may be successivelyaligned with said compressing elements to permit entry therein of saidupper compressing element and said sleeve, means for delivering to eachof said compartments successively a quantity of material to becompressed, means for advancing said compartments to bring the samesuccessively into alignment with said compressing elements, means foractuating said sleeve and separate means for actuating said upperelement to partially compress a mass of material within a compartment,said last recited means further actuating said upper element to compressin said chamber a portion of said partially compressed mass into tabletform, and means for ejecting said tablet from said chamber into saidcompartment.

4. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a forminchamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber indirections toward and away from each other, a sleeve telescoped oversaid upper compressing element, a rotatable turret including a plural- 8l ity of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turretbeing so disposed that each of said compartments may be successivelyaligned with said compressing elements to permit entry therein of saidupper compressing element and said sleeve, means for delivering to eachof said compartments successively a quantity of material tobecompressed, means for indeXing said turret to successive operativepositions, means for locking said turret in said po sitions againstmovement, means for actuating said sleeve and separate means foractuating said upper element to partially compress a mass of materialwithin a compartment, said last-recited means further actuating saidupper element to compress in said chamber a portion of said partiallycompressed mass into tablet form, and means for actuating said lowercompressin element to eject said tablet from said chamber into saidcompartment.

5. A machine for compressing material into tablet form comprising anupper compressing element, a lower compressing element, a chamher inwhich said elements are reciprocable, a sleeve closely surrounding saidupper element and telescopically movable relative thereto, actuatingmeans individual to the elements and to said sleeve, means fordelivering between said elements material to be compressed, said meansincluding a rotatable turret having a plurality of annularly disposedcompartments arranged so that each of said compartments may besuccessively aligned with said compressing elements to permit said upperelement and said sleeve to enter therein, means for delivering to eachof said compartments a quantity of material to be compressed, means foradvancing said compartments to bring the same successively in alignmentwith said compressing elements, means for locking said turret in suchpositions, motionimparting means for said actuating means arranged tocause said upper element and said sleeve to partially compress a mass ofsaid material within a compartment alined therewith and to cause saidsleeve to secure said mass Within an annular area surrounding said upperelement while said upper element is actuated to further compress aportion of said partially compressed mass into a tablet form, said lowerelement being finally actuated to expel said tablet from said chamber.

6. A machine for compressing material into tablet form embodying achamber comprising elements reciprocable in the chamber in directionstowards and away from each other, means for confining a surplus or" thematerial to be compressed and delivering the same between said elements,one of said elements being constructed of relatively movable sections,both of said sections being movable in unison and simultaneouslyoperating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass ofsaid material in zones individual to the sections and means individualto one of said sections for positively operating it will respect to theother section to shear a tablet from said initially compressed mass inits respective zone after the said other section has reached the limitof its compression movement.

'7. A machine for compressing material into tablet form embodying achamber comprising elements reciprocable in the chamber in directionstowards and away from each other, means for confining a surplus of thematerial to be compressed and delivering the same between said elements,one of said elements being constructed of relatively movable sections,both of said sections being movable in unison and simultaneouslyoperating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass ofsaid material, in zones individual to the sections, and means foractuating said other element for imparting a compression movement in adirection opposite the movement of said movable section to furthercompress said tablet within said chamber.

8. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a tablehaving a forming chamber, upper and lower compressing elements movablein said chamber in directions toward and away from each other, means forautomatically confininga predetermined quantity of material anddelivering the same betwcen said elements, means cooperating with saidupper compressing element for partially compressing between said meansand said table and between said compressing elements a mass of saidconfined material, and means for actuating said upper and lower elementsfirst to shear a portion from said partially compressed mass and then tofurther compress said portion into tablet form within said chamber.

9. A machine for compressing material into tablet form comprising atable having a forming chamber therein, a lower compression elementreciprocable in said chamber and at the limit of its movement in onedirection having its compressing face in the plane of said table, areciprocable compression element being constructed of relatively movablesections, with one of said sections being reciprocable in said chamber,means for delivering and confining between said table and said upperelement a surplus of material to be compressed, both of said sectionsbeing movable in unison and simultaneously operating upon the confinedmaterial to initially compress a mass of said material in zonesindividual to said sections, means for positively operating one of said10 I sections with respect to the other and said lower compressionelement to shear a tablet from said initially compressed mass in itsrespective zone after the other section has reached the limit of itscompression movement and means for'actuating said lower compressionelement simultane ously in a direction opposite the movement of saidmovable section to further compress said tablet within said chamber. 1

10. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a tablehaving a forming chamber, compression elements movable in said chamberin directions towards and away from each other, a compression sleeveassociated with oneof said compression elements and movable relativethereto, means for delivering and confining in the zones of saidelements and said sleeve a surplus of material to be compressed, saidsleeve and associated element being movable in unison and simultaneouslyoperating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass ofsaid material in zones individual to said elements and said sleeve Whilesaid other element is at the'limit of its compression movement, meansfor individually actuating said elements simultaneously while a constantand unyielding pressure is maintained on said partially compressedmaterial by said sleeve to shear from said material a tablet and thenfurther to compress said tablet within said chamber.

ALBERT S. KUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,597,803 Kearney et al Aug. 31,1926 1,626,860 Mudd May 3, 1927 1,995,131 Reinhardt Mar. 19, 19352,325,687 Kux Aug. 3, 1943

